Started re-writing in March 3rd 2022

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Their friendship lasted through the years. It started with a simple invitation on Izuku's side.

"Want to come play at home?" school had just finished for them. Both their parents waiting for them by the gate.

Iruka looked at her friend confused. "I can pl-play at your-your home?" Iruka turned towards Shouta who was the one to pick her up this time, " I can pl-play at Izuku's h-house?"

"You should ask his mother kiddo," Iruka turned towards Midoriya Inko.

"Can-can I pl-play at Izuku's house?"

"If your father is ok with it, of course, you can," Inko gave Iruka a smile as warm as Shouta's hugs and she couldn't help but smile back. With numbers exchanged Iruka followed Izuku home for the first time.

That was years ago. 8 to be exact. In those years Izuku and Iruka stuck by each other's side. Izuku and Inko were there for Shouta and Hizashi's wedding. Iruka was there when Izuku finished a full quirk analysis book (that wasn't made with crayons). Izuku was there when Hizashi and Shouta were injured to the point of being hospitalised for a week. Iruka was there when Izuku was suicide baited for the first time. They were there for each other through each new school, through each new hell. They stood by each other's side.

"Tadaima!*" Iruka called out as she took her shoes off at the genkan**.

"Okaeri*** Iruka. Go on and bother Izuku in your room, I'll call you for dinner in a bit,"

"Kk,"

This was routine. To come over to the Midoriya's home a few times a week whenever her parents were busy with work. Sometimes they'd drop by for dinner before they all headed home and other times Iruka would simply sleep over.

"Doing analysis Izu?" Iruka drops her school bag by the shelf and flops onto the floor.

"I was thinking of ways Ectoplasm could use his quirk."

"Lemme see,"

Writing. A hobby the two probably picked up from Inko Iruka was sure.

"I could ask him about this tomorrow if you want,"

"Yes please!"

==========

"Oh hey Iruka, done with your session already?"

"Yup, Ryo had an emergency to handle so we had to finish early today. Papa's on patrol right?"

"Ya. I still have a few things to finish up so I'll be a while. Mind making dinner tonight?"

"Sure if you don't mind chicken curry," Iruka could cook just fine, well for the most part. She has a tendency to under season her dishes. It was probably due to how even her taste buds were heightened. So when her food was mild it was usually bland to others. There are a few dishes she's managed to cook with everyone's tastebuds in mind and those dishes have been ingrained into her memory.

"I'm sure that's fine. Thanks, kiddo."

Iruka waves at the few stragglers of the teachers' lounge. Counselling sessions with Ryo have been a weekly thing forever. Iruka used to have another therapist, one that specialised in younger children, though after several years they deemed her well enough to not require their assistance anymore. Ryo had always been her counsellor so even after she no longer needed a therapist she would still visit Ryo. It helped so much through the years.

She thinks of whether or not they had all the ingredients for the curry when she accidentally bumps into someone.

"Ah. S-sorry," She looked up to see several people crowding around something. When she looked over to what it was, police officers were trying to make sure no one trespassed. It looked to be remnants of what Iruka could only assume was a villain fight.

The route she took was the fastest one home, any other way and she might not have time to get dinner done in time for Shouta's patrol (she, unfortunately, wasn't a fast cook). She looked around. It was broad daylight and if worse comes to the worst she could turn into a bug and fly away. Iruka gave herself a nod of confidence before she strolls into the entrance of an alley.

Iruka was taught from a young age to never walk these roads alone, especially at night. She's learned how to keep herself safe. Never wear earphones and if you do make sure you can still hear your surroundings. Never go somewhere you could get lost in. Know your routes and know how to call back up. They're safety precautions that stem not only from her being born a girl (a harsh reality Nemuri somehow eased her to understand) but also from their hero society as a whole. Just as heroes were everywhere, villains were too. The route she takes home isn't completely unfamiliar. It freaks her how easily scenery can change just by being slightly closed off.

She'd kept an ear out the whole time. She wonder how she didn't hear it sooner. A boy, probably in high school, begs a taller figure to not hurt them. Iruka doesn't think before she's dropped her bag at the mouth of the alleyway and runs in. She isn't as quiet as she'd like to be, she is fast though. They barely have the time to register anyone in the alley with the time when Iruka sends a punch to the older woman. Before she even manages to recover fully, Iruka gives a swift kick to the back of her knees, knocking her down. Iruka grabs onto the boy's sleeve and runs back towards where she had dropped her bag.

Iruka ran with no actual destination in mind. She wasn't as fast as she could be, needing to hold onto the boy. They find the end of the alleyway. The two catch their breath there.

"Are you alright?"

"I- Um-" Iruka looked back at him. His hands shook and they looked ready to collapse- Iruka took a deep breath.

"Hey," She tried to keep her voice calm like she'd seen some senpais do in training. "You're safe now. You'll be ok now," Iruka continued to assure him the best she could. It took a bit but eventually, she got a response.

"I'm- I-"

"Take a deep breath," He did just that.

"Thanks," Iruka smiled at him.

"We should report what happened to the cops."

"What?" Iruka faltered.

"We don't have to if you don't want to but I think it would be best but I- we can go at your pace," The boy blinked at her, confused.

"Won't you get in trouble? For using your quirk?" Iruka blue screened for a moment.

"Oh. Oh! That's not something you have to worry about to much. I wanted to help you. Me getting in trouble will be my consequence to face."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. So, we could go to the cops and report this or I could walk you to wherever you want to go,"

"That- You don't need to do that."

"Nope, but I want to," He thought about it for a moment before deciding that he was okay with reporting the incident to the cops.

Iruka didn't let the silence linger for long. Starting a conversation with mundane questions. The boy, Atsushi, had a fascination for plants. Iruka listened to him talk about how the seasons affected different plants. Soon they reached the police station.

"You ready?"

"What if they don't believe me?" Iruka huffed.

"Why wouldn't they believe you? If they don't believe you then I'm not leaving your side until they do. If for some reason they still don't believe you then they shouldn't have been police to begin with. What happened wasn't your fault." Iruka held out her hand. Atsushi took it and they both went in. As promised Iruka stayed with him as much as she could. When it was her turn to be questioned the cop had looked at her for a moment before giving her a warning for the use of her quirk. It was much less of a punishment than Iruka expected but she wasn't about to complain.

When all was said and done, both Iruka and Atsushi were escorted home.

"Iruka is that you?"

Shoot

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*Tadaima (ただいま) The meaning of the Japanese word Tadaima is "I'm back home." However, the literal translation of tadaima from Japanese to English is actually "just now."

**Genkan () are traditional areas for a , apartment, or building, a combination of a and a . It is usually located inside the building directly in front of the door. The primary function of genkan is for the of before entering the main part of the house or building.

***Okaerinasai （おかえりなさい）" or "Okaeri （おかえり）are responses to Tadaima. The translation of those words is "welcome home."

Look at me posting on a Friday for once. 

Anyways, this is one of the more exciting chapters of the re-write and I hope you think so too. 

This will be one of the last chapters before I go on an undetermined hiatus. Although I really only want to go on hiatus for the month of August that is unfortunately not realistic. The exam that literally determines if I can move on with life happens in roughly March or April and I really need to start focusing on that. Which is why if I don't come back after August I want you to know I will be back at the very latest, after May next year.

I want to try posting 2 chapters during my next update (29th July 2022) but I make no promises. I also kinda don't wanna leave y'all on a bad cliffhanger.

Anyways, enough rambling. Please follow me on Instagram and/or Twitter under @/ryan_reeta because I'll be able to keep y'all updated and sorta entertained there.

Thank you so much for reading/ re-reading my story. If you enjoyed drop a vote and/or comment.

Have a lovely day, night, weekend, whenever, wherever you are.

Stay safe, you're amazing,
Bye Lovies~